Note: Here
are some notes from last Sunday morning’s sermon which focused on the three
exhortations in Hebrews 10:22-25:
First exhortation (v. 22): “Let us draw near with a true heart in full
assurance of faith….”
Why
would anyone in his right mind stand apart from Christ? Would a man freezing to death not draw near
to a roaring fire? Would a starving man
not draw near to a banquet of food?
Would a sick man not draw near to a physician? Would an exhausted man not draw near to
rest?
The
answer to spiritual struggle is never that you need less of Christ. Or that you need to distance yourself from
Christ. It is always that you need more. That you need to come closer.
Second exhortation (v. 23): “Let us hold fast the
profession of our faith without wavering….”
This
is a call to commitment to Christ that lasts over the long haul. Hold fast to your profession [homologia: confession].
Be a man of your word! Do not
waver.
I’ll
never forget the time when a friend from seminary stopped to see me and told me
he was now a Buddhist. Trading Christ
for Buddha is like trading a golden treasure house for a handful of ashes.
You
show you are a believer by remaining a believer.
Notice
v. 23 b: “for he is faithful that
promised.” Where is the focus? On the one who perseveres? On the believer’s faithfulness? No, but on God’s faithfulness. If we hold fast to our profession it is only
by the grace of God!
Third exhortation (vv. 24-25): “And let us consider one another…. Not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together….”
This
exhortation relates to remaining true to the body of Christ, the local and
visible body of believers. Staying true
to Christ also means staying true to his church. It speaks to the mutual benefits of
community.
Believers
consider one another and provoke one another.
This does not encompass malicious provocation. This does not mean hypocritical or
high-minded judging. It does not mean
attacking, demeaning, maligning, insulting or putting down a fellow
believer. It means healthy exhortation
by word and deed. To what end?
To the
provocation [eis to paroxusmon; the
noun here is the root for the English word “paroxysm”: a sudden attack or
violent expression of a particular emotion or activity] of love
and good works.
We are
exhorted to love (agape). This means love of neighbor. It also means love of the brethren.
We are
exhorted to good works. Our emphasis on
justification by faith does not mean we are against good works. Paul is not at odds with James. Faith without works is dead. Consider:
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before
ordained that we should walk in them.
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself
for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a
peculiar people, zealous of good works.
And it
includes not forsaking the assembling of believers (episynagago; v. 25). Some
are spiritual gypsies, floating here and there and never settling down. Some make public commitments, even sign
covenants, then turn around and break their word. We need to come to church. We need the meetings! We need to be de-toxed from the world. We need to meet with each other, but more
than that we need to meet with our God.
The
tabernacle of old was called the tent of meeting. The answer for many spiritual problems
is: More meetings needed. More meetings with God’s people, and, most
importantly, more meetings with our God.
The
sum:
Hold fast to Christ!
Hold fast to your profession!
Hold fast to God’s people!
Grace and peace, Pastor
Jeff Riddle
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